Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

"The Madonna of Montenero: the lame shepherd and the devil's mountain"

Livorno (Italy) (1345)

Perched on a hill overlooking the sea and the port of Livorno is the Sanctuary of Montenero, home to the Madonna delle Grazie, now recognized as the patron saint of Tuscany. Popular tradition traces its origins to May 15, 1345, Pentecost Sunday, with a story that unites poverty, faith, and healing.

Legend has it that a poor, crippled shepherd found an image of the Virgin Mary near the Ardenza stream. He then heard Mary's voice asking him to take the image to Mount Montenero, a dark place, a haven for thieves, popularly known as the "Devil's Mountain." The shepherd obeyed, climbed with the image, and, according to tradition, was cured of his lameness upon reaching the summit. Since then, she has been venerated as Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace), for the many graces attributed to her intercession.

It's important to distinguish between the two. Devout tradition recounts the image of the crippled shepherd of 1345, the voice of Mary, the instantaneous healing, and the "Greek" origin of the icon. Critical history, however, indicates that the image appeared in Montenero around the mid-14th century, in a climate of religious renewal, and is likely attributed to the painter Iacopo di Michele, known as "Gera." The miracle of the 1742 earthquake is also documented: the people of Livorno, grateful for the Virgin's protection, vowed to fast on January 27th, a vow that is still renewed today. The sanctuary, cared for by the Vallombrosan Benedictines since 1792, houses numerous votive offerings from sailors saved from storms and shipwrecks.

Regarding the Rosary, there is no specific, documented historical link between the Madonna di Montenero and a particular devotion to the Rosary, as is the case in Pompeii or Fatima. It is reasonable that it is prayed there frequently, but this belongs to ordinary devotional practice, not to a charism specific to the place.